This week, the House of Representatives voted down two critical anti-gun bills, House Bill 201 and House Bill 350. HB 201, which would have expanded background checks for all firearm sales and transfers, was voted down by a 221-151 vote. HB 350, which would have removed one constitutional right while exercising another by prohibiting individuals from carrying a firearm for self-defense while voting, was voted down by a 204-144. Thank you to those who contacted their legislators in opposition to these anti-gun bills.
If enacted, HB 201 would have required individuals to appear before a licensed firearm dealer to request a criminal background check prior to transferring a firearm, absent limited and vague exceptions. The firearm dealer would also have been required to create a record of each sale. This flawed legislation was being pushed by an out-of-state anti-gun group who is trying to impose their misguided policies on the law-abiding gun owners and sportsmen of New Hampshire.
In HB 201, a “commercial sale” was defined as a sale, transfer, or exchange of a firearm that takes place at, or on the curtilage of, a gun show or pursuant to an offer to sell, buy, transfer, or exchange a firearm that took place at a gun show, or pursuant to an advertisement, posting, listing, or display.” This vague definition would have encompassed all private sales and transfers of firearms.
HB 350, if enacted, would have made carrying a gun while voting a Class B felony, punishable by up to 7 years in prison. Currently, individuals can lawfully carry a firearm into a polling place where it is not prohibited by law to do so.
Stay tuned to www.nraila.org and your email inbox for updates on any other legislation advancing through the General Court of New Hampshire.